Letters to the Editor
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Vulgar, Hate-filled & Ad Hominem Discourse
I read a letter here just a little while ago today that raised my eyebrows high. Being posted in Salon involves accepting responsibility. I see no reason why ad hominem and vulgar attacks should be tolerated and am glad that anonymous letters will no longer be accepted. Although it will require some oversight, it probably makes sense to screen letters for unacceptable language. A cursory (perhaps electronic) scan prior to posting might help.
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Brava!
At the very least, it will allow us to refer to people without having to specify a time as well (e.g. "Anonymous at 11:53").
Another benefit - it will keep people to stupid to know how to register from commenting. ;-)
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Too bad
I understand your reasons, but I still think that it is a bad call.
I think that Anonymous post are less likely to be trolls
than named people around here, but that may just say more about which sorts of letters threads I read than anything else.
If the problem really is people going Anonymous who were previously named posters, I don't think that this will help. Those people will just setup new accounts. I hope that you have in-place or are looking into IP based bans.
Anyway, I really hope that your tech people are talking to people at other sites that already have dealt with many of these issues. It really seems like you are slowly repeating the errors that many sites that many sites went through almost a decade ago.
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Name Names
Brilliant.
I for one am tired of seeing "Anonymous" at the end of posts. If you can't stand behind your words, you shouldn't hide behind an anonymous posting. The number of people with legitimate reasons for posting anonymously is miniscule; many merely have a bloated notion of how much people care about what they're writing; and most people posting anonymously are just rude cowards, throwing stones from behind a parked car.
Thank you, Joan, for doing the right thing.
Tim Howe
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I hope it cuts down on the volume of letters
I for one am sick of listening to people endlessly and furiously agree with one another.
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Bravo.
Good move.
Despite my caustic surliness and frequent dissatisfaction with Salon, you have now forced me to compliment you on something.
Who knows. Maybe this can be the start of something beautiful.
So.
Come here often?
I'm a Pisces. Let me guess: Scorpio?
2003 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape.
Cheers.
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A better solution: allow someone to log in and post anonymously *from that login*
And then if an individual posts abusive letters while anonymous, they have that privilege revoked.
OR - don't allow anonymous letters for *some* problematic sections - such as on articles that inspire Primary Wars - but continue to allow them in other sections, such as in response to "Since You Asked".
Either would be a better solution, IMHO. I've never posted anonymously, but I respect that it makes it easier for some who otherwise would be too uncomfortable to share their honest perspectives.
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Yo
Can we get some stars for A Billion Angry Bees' posts?
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Anonymity is for Cheap Cowards
Real cowards make up a fake name.
Bravo, Salon. A wise policy decision.
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a suggestion
I suggest that the option to post anonymously be preserved, but with moderation. A letter-writer could request that a letter be posted anonymously, and would be asked to give a reason why. The letter would be held until a Salon editor has the time to review it.
One reason for anonymity might be that a user's pseudonym has already become known, and he/she wishes to post on a personally sensitive matter.
In my case, my screen name is my actual given name, because that's how I would sign a traditional letter to the editor. I have, on rare occasions, posted anonymously on personally sensitive matters.
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I appreciate this
I post often, sometimes rationally, and (I'll admit) sometimes stupidly. However, knowing that I have a "name" here matters to me, so I have to take responsibility. Also, others can hold me accountable for my words, and often offer helpful comments. On a personal note, such accountability makes letter writing more than simply a means of self-interested expression. It means being part of a community and having to understand what that means.
Since the primaries became heated, it has also seems (as I know others have noted) that the site may be getting some "visitors" of the tactical persuasion, who are not here to participate, but to generate or incite conflict.
Anyway, thank you.
I can rattle off in my letters from time to time, and I can disagree with Salon, but to be sentimental, this place still feels like my home on the Internet. Thanks for working to maintain its trust.
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Brava.
Good. The lunatics were taking over the asylum for awhile there.
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Thank you, Joan.
Though I've used Anonymous before (generally when not wanting to reveal too much personal info in Since You Asked), I think on balance this is completely the right choice.
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Thank you.
There are some people who post very good letters anonymously, but they are drowned out by those who simply use their anonymity to post one-line attacks. Reading the letters will be much easier now that I can associate comments with screen names. I don't need to be able to filter out results - I can weigh the value of the comments against the commentor myself if I can see their regular posting name. There will still be some vitriol, but I don't expect a perfect world. Like my husband likes to say: "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?".
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Thanks!
Many times over!
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Gratuitous Compliment
I only have time to read certain amount of content...while sitting at my desk in the morning when I should really be working...and Salon is one of my top choices.
I especially enjoy reading the conversations and thoughts contained in your "letters" section. It's a great format, often exceptionally thoughtful, and I really can't understand why other websites haven't shamelessly copied it. Their loss.
Keep up the good work!
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I'm sorry
I have been know to be an angry poster, for that I apologize, to anyone I might have insulted,
except W.E.S., lol.
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Oh,... and about the ratings...
Be careful. Rating posters quickly turns the comments section into a popularity contest. I used to think that it was a very good idea for people to be able to "rate up" comments they liked. But experiences at Daily Kos showed me that high ratings tend to reflect popular opinions more than insightful comments. Popular isn't always bad - but it's a shame when you see very intelligent, well thought out comments that are ignored because they don't agree with conventional wisdom. I think that the current system of allowing editors to highlight comments of their choosing is a good one. If I don't have time to read through the entire comments section, I can see the cream of the crop by simply clicking a button.